Forum to discuss security at CCS

CORNWALL — A public forum on safety and security at Cornwall Consolidated School (CCS) is planned for later this month. No date has been set yet.In the wake of the Dec. 14 school shooting in Newtown, discussions were held with middle-school students. Younger children and classes had the opportunity to talk about it without being prompted. Only a few students asked questions or shared comments with teachers. Principal Michael Croft told the school board at its Dec. 18 meeting that a few adjustments have been made to school security. He gave the details in executive session. Those changes came out of a meeting earlier in the day with board members, town officials, the school safety team, Region One Superintendent Patricia Chamberlain and a security expert hired by the Region One School District.Schools have plans for dealing with emergencies, such as fire or a threat. There are daily preventive measures, such as the security camera and buzz-in system installed at the school’s main entrance two years ago. All other doors are locked during the school day. The school is generally unsecured from the time students are dismissed and through evening activities and cleaning by the maintenance staff.A temporary tightening of security includes keeping doors locked more often after the school day and assigning more staff to supervise outside as students arrive in the morning.The ultimate goal, according to Croft, is to find a balance between safety and maintaining the school as a welcoming community building.Striking the right balance is not likely to be easy, as illustrated during a prolonged debate over whether or not to lock the school doors that continued even after the board voted, in March 2010, to install the buzz-in system. Parents were polarized, mostly taking very opposing views that the school should either be as secure as possible or demanding that their children not be forced to live in a state of fear. Discussions began in September 2009 at school board and PTA meetings. Then-Principal Robert Vaughan brought up the topic after learning that most Region One schools had locked-door policies. It was noted that former Principal Kathleen Fitzgibbons had refused to consider the approach. In December 2009, Vaughan brought back to the board the results of extensive research. The conclusion, drawn from data of actual incidents, showed very little risk from unknown intruders, which is what a buzz-in system would guard against.There was a lot of discussion on the potential threat of being located near a state highway, about who would be responsible for determining who is allowed in (at CCS, it’s the secretary and board clerk, who have monitors at their desks) and weaknesses in the system, such as public access during activities outside of the school day.Cornwall’s fire and ambulance officers were asked to weigh in. They had concerns over access to the school in an emergency but were assured that the system would be immediately deactivated.What seemed to swing the decision was anecdotes that board members said reminded them that it is better to be safe than sorry. There were stories such as the one told by board member Phil Hart. While inspecting the exterior of the school one day because of maintenance concerns, he gave a tug to classroom doors leading directly outside. He found them locked, as they were supposed to be. But he didn’t get more than a few steps past one when a little girl pushed the door open, stuck her head out and asked if he wanted to come in. She had no way of knowing who was outside.Comparisons between Sandy Hook Elementary School and CCS show similarities. Although the Newtown school has about four times the enrollment of CCS, it is within a close-knit community and has a high rating. The date of the forum will be published in The Lakeville Journal when it becomes available.